Kieran Trippier believes that Tottenham would have beaten Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final if Mousa Dembele was still a member of the squad.
Dembele joined Chinese Super League club Guangzhou R&F for £11million in January 2019 after making 249 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham since signing from Fulham in 2012.
Trippier, who played in the Champions League final before heading to Atletico Madrid for £20m, said that Dembele would have been key to their success on the European stage.
'They've got quality players, but, for me, the little fine margins of winning something is obviously when Mousa left. That's my opinion,' the England defender told the Beautiful Game podcast.
'As a player, you don't want to see a player like Mousa leave, especially in January. Unless there was something that he needed to leave or whatever, I honestly don't know.
'It didn't make sense because he's the fine margins of winning you the Champions League final. That's how good he was.
'He could have three players around him, and you could give him the ball.
'The amount of respect the players had for him, and to see a player like that leave in January when you are going through a difficult season, for me, it didn't make sense.
'That's just my opinion. I don't want to speak on any of the players' thoughts on that.
'As soon as he goes it just saps it out of you because you've lost Mousa Dembele.'
Dembele arrived at White Hart Lane in 2012 after completing a £15m move from Fulham.
After a successful start to his Premier League career, he went on to feature internationally for Belgium at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, as well as Euro 2016.
However, injury-plagued Dembele only appeared 13 times in his final season, with the likes of Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko playing ahead of him.
Ngpksster
448
lets not talk about what if. accept the defeat and accept the fact that your manager didn't had guts to start lucas moura in the final. guy who scored a hatrick in semi didn't even started in the final. that was the weakness. Harry Kane wasn't in form and good fitness at the final, name doesn't win, right players at the right time does.
Zaodrst
389
i rated dembele as the best midfdr in EPL at his prime ability wise for all most 4 yrs his paring with wanyama were so good at one time, dembele was like a magnet with the ability in hus legs, he would dribble past player like they are not there, he would receive the ball amy where in any situation, because he had such an amazing close control and balance, he was that good i loved him to bits
Adesina
374
Barca had Messi and still got knocked out ,so who the fuck is Demebele
zetcdkotz
247
Barca had Messi and still got knocked out ,so who the fuck is Demebele
Kevin de bruyne , called him the best player he's ever played with , as always all football filled with people who don't know a shit about football